New two-story homes will soon be available for rent in downtown San Luis Obispo.
Progress is being made on the “Downtown Terrace” housing complex along Higuera Street.
On Tuesday, three new manufactured units were installed using a crane.
So far, there are 18 manufactured homes in place, but there will be a total of 30 homes once the project is completed.
The two- and three-bedroom homes are expected to be ready by this summer.
“It’s a very convenient location for those who want to live, work or use downtown area,” said John Belsher, Downtown Terrace developer.
The manufactured homes, which range from 1,000-1,350 square feet, are replacing the former Mission Trailer Park.
Belsher says the project will provide working-class housing in an urban lifestyle type of community.
Of course, the big question is, how much is the rent?
Belsher doesn’t have an answer yet.
“The pricing for these units has not really been set yet because we haven’t secured renters and we don’t really know what the interest level is going to be,” Belsher explained.
These homes also won’t have parking spaces. Belsher hopes tenants will use other means of transportation or park off-site, on the street, or in parking structures.
San Luis Obispo resident Wayne Rydberg worries this will add up to 100 more people looking for parking on a regular basis in an already busy downtown area.
“The intensity of the crowding is what bothers us. This was a slow and peaceful place and it’s not so much that way anymore,” Rydberg said.
The developer says he wants to help people who work in downtown to live in downtown, without cars.
The only car access at Downtown Terrace will be for pick-ups and drop-offs.
A historic home will be restored as part of the project.
The Norcross House has been on the property since the 1870s. It, too, will be rented out.
